A young U.S. educated Baloch school principal was Thursday morning gunned down by agents of Pakistan’s infamous Inter-Services Intelligence in the port city of Gwadar. Zahid Askani, who was educated in Appleton, Wisc., had returned to Balochistan to promote co-education and had established the Oasis School in Gwadar. Seven bullets were pumped into his body by what Pakistan media described as "unknown assailants." It was clear that the slain principal, who was originally from Panjgur, believed in an independent homeland for the Baloch people as he was a member of the Baloch Students Organization Azad and Baloch Freedom Struggle groups on Facebook.
Courtesy Ateeq Ahmed, Facebook
Jane E. Weisner, of Amherst, Mass., who is general secretary of the American Friends of Balochistan, told the Baltimore Examiner Thursday for a person to be Baloch was reason enough for him to be killed by the I.S.I. Weisner said she met Askani through the social media and was impressed with his fervent, impassioned dedication to freedom for Balochistan. “He was too young to die, but died for freedom as so many do before freedom is achieved,” Weisner said. A sad Erin Reardon, a friend of Askani's from Appleton, said on Facebook, "Zahid Askani, thank you for being a beautiful person who has helped so many in the world."
Balochistan has the lowest literacy rate in Pakistan -- around 27 percent. Barely one out of three males and one out of six females are literate in Balochistan. Toronto-based Canadian thinker and writer Tarek Fatah, a vociferous advocate for the freedom of Balochistan, condemned Askani's killing. "The Pakistan ruling establishment -- the Army as well as the Punjabi-Muhajir ruling elite -- is hell bent on keeping Balochistan backward by targeting its intellectuals and academics," said Fatah, who is of Punjabi descent -- Punjabis control Pakistan army --, but continues to receive death threats from Pakistanis because of his brutally frank criticism of Pakistan policy of exporting Islamic extremism. "The message from Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad is very clear to the Baloch: You are our slaves and we are your colonial power. The response by the Baloch should be an unequivocal call for the end of Pakistani occupation of Balochistan, no matter what the cost. Azadi ya maut (Freedom or death)," said Fatah.
Zahid Askani’s friends in Balochistan were in one voice blaming the Pakistani intelligence services for his killing. “Pakistani army, ISI , MI (military Intelligence) support militant extremist groups to kill Baloch teacher's in name of Islam. Zahid Askani has been martyred by the Pakistani establishment,” said one of his friends, Jamal Baloch. Askani appeared to have created a wide circle of well-wishers. “Zahid Askani, who passed away after a terrorist attack, was one of the greatest personalities I have ever known. He was just not a great teacher, but a loving brother and guide...Unique and irreplaceable,” said Ateeq Ahmad. Analysts said Islamic State supporters, sponsored by the I.S.I., who are against co-education have killed Askani, "Anti-education elements have been active in Balochistan for many months," said journalist Aziz Sanghur. "Several girls schools have been closed down by these elements in Panjgur and Turbat districts. Now these elements have entered the coastal areas of Mekran."
Mayjan Mehji of Gwadar recalled the words of the slain principal: "You have to walk, and create the way by your walking. You will not find a ready-made path. It is not so cheap to reach to the ultimate realization of truth. You will have to create the path by walking yourself." By his hard work, Askani made the Oasis School in Gwadar a premier institution of modern education. “Zahid Askani was not just a great teacher but a father for all young students who he taught... He was the person who brought a great change in the education system of Gwadar,” said Darwesh Murad.
Pakistani intelligence services have been target killing educated Baloch who have U.S. contacts as they suspect Washington, along with India and Israel, of backing the freedom struggle in Balochistan to counter the Chinese influence. At least two Baloch youths working for the U.S. consulate were killed in Karachi, while a third escaped to U.S. safety. Pakistani newspapers only made a brief mention of Askani's killing. “Down with shameless Pakistan,” said Noroz Baloch, one of Askani’s friends.
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